Yes!+ Diary .... Pune

Friday, September 4, 2009

I always wonder how Manish Bhiaya is so amazing in making decisions. How he knows that whatever he plans is going to be an unforgettable experience for each one of us. This time he planned a trip to Lohagad which pumped us up with lots of energy and excitement. We decided to travel by train as we thought it would be something different. All the volunteers decided to meet at the Shivajinagar station sharp at 6 in the morning.

All the volunteers reached the station on time. Keeping in mind the wrath of swine flu, we had taken all the precautionary stuffs with us. We then waited for the train to come which surprisingly was on time. For probably the first time in my life, I was impressed with the Indian Railways for its punctuality. We all were in a jovial mood with bhaiya taking the initiative to crack some jokes and Abhishek singing a nice song. After an hour or so, we reached our destination. Abhishek was so enamoured by the beauty of the place that he was busy clicking pictures from the time we got off the train. The lush green hills on one side of the road and the small houses on the other made for a very pleasant view.

After filling our tummies with a nice breakfast, we started trekking towards the Lohagad fort. We stopped at a waterfall on the way and had lots of fun there. We moved further and then the real process of milk to butter transformation started (Guruji had spoken about this process of transformation in one of his talks). It was not so easy to climb up the hills. In the middle of the journey, we all were so tired but the fire within us motivated us not to give up. With the knowledge point to give our 100%, we reached the top.

At the fort, the strong breeze had a calming effect on our tired souls and rejuvenated us once more. The view from the top was exhilarating - the earth meeting the horizon far away. We found a suitable place where we began our chanting and meditation activities. We spent some more time there after which it was time to leave. On the way back, Bhaiya asked us to race. Though mentally we were recharged, our bodies were still aching so we refused. Devdatta, the craziest of the volunteers, accepted the challenge and began sprinting along with Bhaiya. This was a perfect example on how to give 100% even when you are down and out. We took the train back and left for our homes with a bit of tiredness but very happy to have ended it with so much fun and masti.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

An elephant's trunk has the strength to uproot a tree as well as the finesse to pick up a needle.

Ganesha's trunk symbolises the fact that the wise person has both immense strength and fine discrimination. Ganesha has large ears. The wise person hears all. He has four hands. In one and he holds a lotus, the symbolofenlightenment. In the other hand he holds a hatchet. That is, the old karma, all your sanskars, the accumulated good and bad of past deeds get cut when enlightenment comes.

The third hand holds laddus, the round sweet-meats. They are the rewards of a wise life. Ganesha is never shown eating the laddus. The wise man never partakes of the rewards of his deeds. He is not attached to them. The fourth hand is shown blessing the people. The wise man wishes the best for everyone.

Ganesha has only one tusk; the other is shown broken. There is an interesting story as to how Ganesh happened to get an elephant's head andhow one tusk got broken. The symbolism of the broken tusk is that the wise person is beyond duality.

We tend to think that we end when our bodies end in the material world. We are the first person. All else is different. This duality is created by the mind which creates the ego to help us survive in this world. This 'me-other' duality is the screen keeping us from realising our real Self, which is beyond body and mind. Once we transcend this duality, we see the entire Universe as a single whole and we become aware of our true Selves. The single tusk of Ganesha symbolises this non-duality. Wisdom allows us to see all as one and ourselves an integral part of the whole.

Ganesha is shown sitting with one foot on the ground and the other resting on his knee, above the ground. The wise person is of this earth, yet not entirely of this earth.Ganesha is shown seated on a rat. The reason for saying that Ganesha 'rides' on the rat is that the rat is among the greediest of all animals. It will keep nibbling at whatever is available, eating everything it can. Scientifically, too, the rat's teeth keep growing and it has to keep chewing on something to keep these within limits. The rat is a symbol of our senses, which are never satisfied. They crave new experiences, new tastes. Left uncontrolled, they keep growing forever. The wise person rides on his senses. He keeps them under control.

Ganesha is often shown seated in front of a tray of sweets. In these images the rat is shown sitting in front of Ganesha, perhaps a bit to one side, looking up at him. The senses of the wise person are under his control and the rat dare not eat the sweets without the permission of Ganesha.

Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati, the God governing the life-force and the earth-mother. This symbolises the spirit and body of the wise person. Finally, the wise person has the dignity of an elephant.

When we say "Aum Ganeshaya Namah" before starting anything what we are saying is that "In what we are about to do, let wisdom be our guide". In a sense, Ganesha is our most powerful god, and he is usually remembered before starting any rituals for other deities.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I am a working professional where I have to be more competitive in my office. After doing the course I am able to deal with office task more effectively. I can prioritize all my task better than before. I also got a new environment where I have new friends. Over all it’s a great experience for me to be a part of YES!+.To be a volunteer is a great learning experience which involves lot of challenges.

We are stuck with our own bounderies, which is a big hinderance in our growth. To enhance our skills which can provide good career, professoinal excellence I would recommend people to come for this course.

It is said that world is reflection of urself....It is the way you see it. YES!+ has changed my view to see the world, if you are happy you will see everyone happy. It has also helped me with my creativity, I have developed my skills in photo editing you can check it on http://nullcon.net/and many others too, It has also helped me with my health problems, I had severe headache and eye straining problem which used to happen frequently, now it is vary rare. YES!+ is turning point of my life.

what changes I have seen in myself I want others to experience it, so that they can excel in their own field and spread this beautiful knowledge. and most important I just love volunteering, the rocking spirit of all the volunteers. We all volunteers come together its like nothing can stop us. :)

I want everyone to do this course and experience changes.YES!+ just roxxxxx!!!!!!!

beyond words..... just do it!!!!

Nikhil PawarBE Information TechnologyPVG College of Engg and Technology Pune

After YES!+ I feel much energized , self-confident, independent and stable. I am excelling in studies and social life. By volunteering YES!+ courses, I want to spread this knowledge which I learnt in this course. I reiterate knowledge points as well as update it. I get opportunities to do SEVA. I want everyone must do the course because, nowadays, many social & health problems are popping out in society, so there is need of a good & healthy people around. Those people together could bring positive changes in society and excel personally & socially.

Surbhi MittalBComPG Diploma in Animation

I did my course in June with the best teachers Manish bhaiya and Srivi...beleive me my life has changed after that. I got the best teachings ever. YES!+ is an amazing course with full of masti and dhamaal.You get to learn and to enjoy simultaneously. Those 7 days were the best days of my life..last day toh I was not feeling like going home. Before the course I use to just hang around with friends..no dedication..no focus..nothing!!After the course I realised hanging around with friends could had been done with all this also. I could have excelled in my studies..I am so happy that I have done YES!+ and I am a member of this big family!!This is a course everyone should experience..wake up..start living guys!!

Devdatta PuntambekarBE Information TechnologyPVG College of Engg. and Technology PuneHe is A YES!+ Leader

I have seen lots of changes in myself. I became more confident. Before YES!+ I used to have rank 45-50 among 60 students in school... But after YES!+ even though I am doing engineering I am in top 10 always. 'Study for knowledge not for marks' is the best thing that I got from my YES!+

YES!+ course is good experience for gaining knowledge and volunteering is best experience to implement it. More importantly the knowledge that I learnt should reach all the people and I would like to work for it. When I became volunteer, my life has changed drastically in just few weeks. No one can imagine how much I have changed except me n manish bhaiyya.

I dont need to say any more.....I am sure everyone will do the course after reading this :D

I consider myself to be lucky that just as I turned 18 I stumbled upon something incredible known as "YES!+"...i feel grateful towards an angel in my life who introduced me to this course. and after that, life's changed...drastically! I've been a shy girl since childhood. I would not talk to unknown people. But this course has actually taught me to expand my belongingness. It has helped me come out of my shell that I had enclosed myself in, but now I do not mind talking to anyone, doing anything that I want to...without caring a damn about what would people think...the course taught me commitment, patience and everything that I would ever need to achieve whatever I want from life...it is this course that has given me a perfect job, a perfect life, a perfect team to work with, perfect master, perfect teachers, perfect friends...and a peace of mind...this course has given me things that money cannot buy...yet, they are extemely valuable...

Kapil KarkeleProject ManagerGeometric Ltd.

kabhi mai baccha banta hun

kabhi mai joker banta hun

kabhi awara bankar mai khub masti karta hun..

jo chahe muze kahale..

ab mai khub hasta hun..

hasake hasake unko ..thanku kahata hun..

Kabhi mai dayawan hota hun..

Kabhi mai Shaktiman banta hun…

Ab naye padoson se mai khud hi friendship karta hun…

Jaha chahe mai jau..

Ab na akela pau..

Smile ki ek nayi mai ne bhasha sikhi hai…

kabhi mai actor banata hun..

kabhi mai poems likhata hun..

kab story likhkar mai…sabko lubhata hun…

jo chahe musibat laye

har pal muze ab bhaye…

Guruji jaise bhagwan se jab nata joda hai…

Art of Living is a family..and I am a family member of it.

After doing the course, you will understand the most important, valuable, precious thing in life to survive which is easily available from the day one in our life..that is breath…after the course one learns how easy it is to live life king size with the breath!

When I did my YES!+ course I felt not only awesome but I thought 'arrey yar mi ha course aajach ka kela jar ha course mi pahile kela asta tar kadachit mazi life ankhi cool & zakkas asti' but from that day I promised myself, I will do the Kriya regularly.....come what may...kuch bhi hojaye.....from that day I strongly bonded with AOL activity......and ofcourse I am getting good result since last 8 month.......Though I am getting angry, its intensity is very less, I am aware while doing any kind of stuff. Before doing YES!+ I could not manage time, but now this problem has solved. Since last 8 month I am not getting tensed & feared...Yes after doing YES!+ course I got dashing company & friends.I have seen +ve changes in my attitude & behaviour after connected with AOL.

Whenever I do the volunteering for YES!+ course I am feeling so great marathit sangaycha zala tar "prasanna" vatate. Also I revise all points which is being tought in course and I implement those if I forgot any of this knowladge point.. every time I am taking the good quality from other volunteer & participate & implement it..in my life. Also my association of good people has increaseed....I have noticed when I did volunteering for YES!+! for whole course I feel energiezed & charming........

After doing this course, everyone finds drastic changes in their life....& their attitude....If youths will do the course, definatly they will get changed in their life which is more than suficiant to develop our socity & country.. they will get good association which is important for developing career (association directly reflect the behaviour).so I want all the people to do the course and experience the heaven on earth..Jai Gurudev

As Guruji says we are made god to serve to others....we are born on this earth do seva for others....just surrender...

I chose to volunteer because my guru says so...I want to do Sadhana, Seva, Satsang n gain knowledge...and YES volunteering a course full of youth with my guru is the most beautiful thing which happens to me.I learn many new things, become more responsible. The best thing is I want to bring as many youths as I can in this knowledge by making them to do YES!+ ...and to bring a smile on everyones face....

It is something which every youngster should do.The best part is Sudarshan Kriya. The sutras make life easier....this course brings out the best in you..before doing the course I used to hate the materialistic world a lot but now the sutras have made it easier for me to accept it as it is and excel in it..guys YES!+ nahi kiya toh kya kiya.....

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Another poem by Kratik dedicated to YES!+ teachers Srivi and Manish Bhaiyya.

All seemed lost when you called,Craving for warmth deep beneath ice,Analgesia of light in mid war, a move stalled,A Barathea coat cover, pulled me away from apartheid.A coin toss with both sides opposite,On each, charming and smiling as I began to commemorate,Out of the blue, two angels you sent,Perfection in them, learnt a leonine stance as I heard them narrate.They had experienced the art even missing in gerontology,Angels had personalities, I never knew,Your lozenge and a code to smile,Handpicked they were, my teachers are.The bank of creativity and the vision of beauty,Touch of silence along with being strong academically,Represents the country and moves the stage on her feat,She taught me the art of doing everything, an angel she is.With love and passion in his speech,He shook me, took me by a storm like no other.Having most dynamic personality that I had ever come across,He taught me the art of celebrating every moment, an angel he is.Away from this world they were, light up the candle with songs so rhyming,Like an influx within me, their teachings your grace.Logics turned out to be so illogical and heart so entwining,Maybe I was extra special that you sent me two gems, when I was left in space.I thank you for my smile,As I left regret in the past within moments,You flapped you hands and the door of happiness opened,As you touched me, moved me, told me that I’m me,Not a bondman but a prince, you whispered as you sent me the two angels,Handpicked they were, my teachers are.…………………………They say when it’s time your Guru finds you.Jai Gurudev!

As already said, we have lots of talented volunteers around and one of them has written a poem.The poet is Kratik Malhotra.

This poem is dedicated to our beloved Guruji.

Always been a dreamer,Spiritless I walked.Wrapped in a shell like a creature,In a misconception I lived,holding on to that very chord.A belief that died one day,moving on I knew,but soul crushed I was,I thought,Alone I got down to lay,within emotions I was caught.An attitude so vigilant,It was all in your lane.I a knife with edge so blunt,All I was left was in vain.you left but I still walked,Feeling captivated,left me in tears.I said I quit,with emotions rocked,waiting till that cloud clears.That's when I got my Guruji, Introduced to me by my Guru.His blessing and his connection with me,A metronome of the divine with an amazing milieu.He in my life like an angel,I started to sing in his orchestra.With a jubinated belief in him to ring his grace bell,It seemed like the start of a new era.Since then when I felt down,He showed me the way.Told me there's nothing to frown,Giving my 100% to see that light ray.How easily he taught me forgetting to rancour,carving an attitude so valorous.He showed me the path and made me discover,a world of peace over evil,was to see,forgetting the previous.A move from the past to the present,the transition of thoughts after days so tumultuous.A smile so constant after days of descend,I realized how people had kicked me around with their opinions.With a feeling of gratitude,he made me stand right next to the stars.Changed me to see this world in a way too different,said accept situations the way the are.All I did was believed in the master,and left it all in the past.With his teaching I learnt how opposite values are complementary,how deterred I was,maybe I thought I had lost.He came like a bird in my life,dropping seeds of beatitude,whispered to be up to the stake.From the clogne of beauty and an extra strive,I learnt a reason is too week behined a mistake.I walked on a road living under a shadow,trapped in the prison of past.He called me to give me a momento,His teachings would always last.That's my Guruji,Introduced to me by my Guru.

-- Thanks a lot,Yes!+,Pune,AOL rocks!-- A special thanks to Manish Bhaiya and Srividya didi.

Monday, August 17, 2009

THIS WAS GONNA BE THE FIRST COURSE IN AUNDH SO IT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING JOB FOR ALL OF US...BUT BY GURUJI'S GRACE WE PULLED IT OFF WELL AS UNDER:

DAY1:

AS USUAL THE FIRST DAY WAS TOUGH COZ THE PARTICIPANTS WERE VERY ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHATS IT GONNA BE LIKE. MANISH BHAIYA N HIMANSHU BHAIYA STARTED THE FIRST SESSION . TO BEGIN WITH BHAIYA STATED HIS AWESOME RULES LIK LAUGHING ON JOKES, ASKING FOR MORE STORIES N ALL N THE PARTICIPANTS REACTED VERY POSITIVELY.

DAY2:

THIS IS THE KRIYA DAY. WE ALL LIT UP THE HALL WITH CANDLES SO THAT WHEN THE PARTICIPANTS OPEN THEIR EYES POST-KRIYA IT INCREASES THE SOOTHING EFFECT. N IT WORKED!!!! RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING.....THEY FELT OUT OF THE WORLD!!!! BHAIYA THEN SAID THAT "NOW REMEMBER THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE TAKING CARE OF YOU!!!" I LOVE THIS LINE!!!!

DAY3&4:

THE SESSION STARTED WITH AMAZING SPORTS AND ANIMAL YOGA BY HIMANSHU BHAIYA...N THIS WAS THE TIME WHEN THE PARTICIPANTS TRUELY CAME OUT OF THEIR SHELLS. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE FUNNY LIONS, CROCS, TORTOISES,ETC (LOLZ) GAINING POINTS FOR THEIR CREATIVITY!!!!!TODAY WE HAD A SPECIAL THING PLANNED FOR THE PARTICIPANTS....WHEN THEY STARTED WITH THE KRIYA, WE FILLED THE ENTIRE HALL WITH 108 BALLOONS. AND THEY LOVED IT!! BHAIYA THEN STRUCK WITH A NEW FANTABULOUS GAME WHERE THE PARTICIPANTS HAD TO CARRY AS MANY BALLOONS AS THEY COULD WITHOUT TOUCHING THEIR HANDS TO THE BALLOONS TO A CERTAIN POINT. IT WAS TOTAL FUN N THEY HAD A GREAT TIME( BHAIYA N HIS LOVELY GAME INVENTIONS...HATS OFF!!!)..

LAST DAY:

VOLUNTEERS GATHERED EARLY N DECORATED THE WHOLE HALL TO MAKE IT THE BEST DAY OF LIFE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS. THE DAY STARTED WITH AMAZING DANCE YOGA FOLLOWED BY SKITS N FASHION SHOWS PERFORMED BY THE PARTICIPANTS.[ :D]THEN THE MOST AWAITED PART OF LAST DAY...STARTED WITH THE SANDWICH N FRUIT SALAD MAKING COMPETETION...WHT A SPIRIT N DECORE...YUMMMY!!! (ITS STILL FRESH IN OUR MEMORIES :P)THE PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT DREW THE PICTURES OF TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS ON THE CHARTS SAYING "WE LUV U GUYS". IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING. AND AS THE COURSE WAS COMING TO AN END NOBODY WAS READY TO LEAVE .THEY WERE EXCHANGING NUMBERS N THANKING FOR THE AMAZING THING THEY GOT TO EXPERIENCE HERE. 3 CHEERS FOR: GURUJIMANISH BHAIYAHIMANSHU BHAIYAVOLUNTEERS NPARTICIPANTSHIP HIP HURRAY!!!HIP HIP HURRAY!!!HIP HIP HURRAY!!!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Most exciting thing happened on the last day of course, 26th July , GPP.A surprise for the participants ,a beautiful skit was presented by the rocking volunteers, with full energy, enthusiasm, music, dance... It covered all the knowledge points of YES!+.

Pappu can’t dance saala... This song in itself is funny. Full on dance masti...seeing each other copying the steps...lolz!! Vinayak looking too good!hehehe...everybody was on the floor.

Baburao.... the character of the skit!! ...he just lit up the show with his great acting skills. What an actor!!!He just got into the character!!When we use to not practice he still use to be in the character and talk in that style and act like him..real fun!!he even used a helmet in one scene..it was hilarious!!as u can see his attire in the pic u can guess how well he did the role!!

ye baburao ka style hai...

Kandho se milte hain kandhe... Ohhoo..check out Pankaj!!hmmm so here he is giving some cool tips..what are they ?you need to check out when we present the skit again.

It was a cool, rainy and wet morning, all volunteers & participants were very much exited because firstly it was a day for YES!+ upgrade and that to out of city (First time ever) and in MAHABALESHWAR.

All people summoned at Manish Bhaiyya’s place early in the morning, after a week or so it was time for a much needed LONG KRIYA, which is always was a rocking and energizing experience.Sarthak bhaiyya escorted us for upgrade. We started for Mahabaleshwar by bus, enjoying scenery, greenery all around obviously accompanied by Sarthak Bhaiyya’s great experiences, games, music & more and more knowledge we reached Mahabaleshwar at around 1pm. Then “Gracious secret” of upgrade was unleashed by bhaiyya (sorry can’t be stated.. must be experienced :D ).

Mean while volunteers had a great time. They all went to a Mahabaleshwar temple. It was awesome experience to visit the temple. Mahabaleshwar Temple is flanked with 5 ft high stony wall around it. Devoted to Lord Shiva Shankar, the temple is an edifice of yore that has maintained its sanctity and hallow to the highest.

Then to Panchaganga temple which is adjacent to Mahabaleshwar temple. In the heart of the Mahabaleshwar stands tall the Panchganga temple blessing people with its sight and holiness. The temple is named so due to its location at the confluence of five rivers those are: Koyna; Venna; Savitri; Gayatri and Krishna. Quiet interestingly, these rivers flow out of cow’s figure (Goumukhi Spout) carved out of the stone. The temple was constructed by the then Raja Singhandeo, the Yadava ruler of Devagitri in the 13th century. Later, two centuries after the establishment of the mandir, it was renovated by Maratha Emperor Shivaji.

By 6pm all process was over and we all gathered again. Everyone was so happy with the upgrade. There were only smiling faces, telling their experiences of the upgrade to each other. Then we left for pune. Still the energy was high and we had satsang in the bus. It was awesome.

Finally we were back in pune. It was again a day yet full of Energy, joy and a bucket full of Awesome Experience.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

the PPMnow the work for this course started a week before the course. everything was organised, work was alotted to the volunteers and a surprise was planned out! the volunteers had decided to wear themed clothes on each of the course and themes consisted of saree day for girls, formals for boys, mawali day, hats day etc.

20th july...afternoonthe volunteers reached the venue at 4. everything in place and within a few minutes...the hall was set to welcome the participants. :)

day1although the participants seemed a little shy at the begining, they quickly got adjusted to the environment. the responce was simply amazing!

day2sudarshan kriya!! the particiapnts simply could not stop smiling..!"amazing experience""never ever felt like this in my entire life""i feel so light and relaxed now"

day 3the day started with a lot of fun games. the volunteers celebrated saree day for girls and formals day for boys. everyone was shining bright and there was a photoshoot for them! the day finally ended with second sudarshan kriya.

day 4this day required a lot of plannnig for the volunteers as they had planned a birthday surprise for manish bhaiya.they started working on the surprise since 4 pm with and when manish bhaiya walked into the hall...he was out of words!"i'm spellbounded" he said..

day 5&6the days consisted of a lot of fun games. the participants also joined the volunteers in dressing up in mawali theme and hats! before we knew it, the course was coming to an end over and we were nearing the last day...the day of surprise!

the sunday!the day started at 6 am for the volunteers when they went for a trip to sinhagadh. after having a lot of fun there, in spite of being very tired they got back to work. in the afternoon though their work paid off well as theygot to taste yummy fruit salads and sandwiches! after preparing a lot for the "surprise" they finally in the evening they presented a skit based on knowledge points. the particiapnts simply rolled in laughter! even they showcased their talents like collages, drawings etc.after such an eventful, fun day of masti, dances, food and a lot of other exciting stuff, this exciting course got over! this was by far the most exciting, fun-filled amazing yes+ in the history!

so cheers to the teachers - manish bhaiya and mansi didicheers to all the volunteers!and cheers to the participants!!jai gurudev!

Monday, August 10, 2009

although the course was supposed to start at 6 pm, the volunteers had started working since 12 noon! sitting in the yes+ office, vinaya and varshada made beautiful posters to decorate the hall. in the afternoon, all the volunteers came and we started moving all the stuff like the sound system, board, charts to the hall around2.30 pm - one thing that manish bhaiya taught us out of his own experience - never be late to reach the venue with all the stuff! so, at around 3 all the stuff reached the venue - lahoti hostel in model colony.we finished all the setup within minutes and had "triyambakam homa"...by 5.30 everything was done and the course started sharp at 6.

DAY 1everything went very smoothly...the participants were very enthusiastic since the begining itself and maintained that level till the last minute...

DAY 2 & 3first sudarshan kriya...all the participants were thrilled...when the session got over at 10 pm, they were glowing like never before."the most beautiful that ever happened in my life..."

DAY 4the day consisted of more of interesting sessions and fun games...everyone became a child again when we played dog-&-the-bone. manish bhaiya just challenged the participants to play against volunteers...and they responded with equal enthusiasm!

DAY 5 & 6more knowledge, more fun, more insanity...& the day ended with guruji's video..."manish bhaiya n srivi - the best mentors ever""srivi is so sweet...and manish bhaiya is awesome..."

DAY 7the day of fun, masti, and dancing!the whole atmosphere got charged in the morning itself by amazing dance yoga taken by aditya. everyone litterally let their hair down and danced till they dropped..the afternoon was of some more knowledge and then was the time for fruit salad n sandwich making compitition followed by rocking satsang with bambi..

"what a rocking way to end the course..."then...it was time to say goodbyes, exchanging mobile numbers, planning next meets, clicking pictures, people just refused to go home!...at the end of the day, everyone went home having 30 new best friends...

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Behind the scenesIt's not very often, that you reach a venue where an event is to begin in lets say 2 hours, and you find absolutely no chaos! Well, it was new to me at least... when I reached the Yoga Hall in the Symbiosis Infotech Campus in Hinjewadi IT Park at 4:00 PM... and realized that we have the sound system, the white board, the stationary, the placards, the water arrangements, the decorations material... all in place! We are in total control... Hoo! I suddenly remembered 29th January 2008 - when we had organized the first ever course here, the course was to being at 6:00, and when the clock hit 6:00 - I was at a red light signal, somewhere in Aundh, about 11 Kms away... with all the stuff mentioned above piled up behind me in Amber's car!

What really made the difference this time was the super chaos that enthralled us the week before... and left us with a resolve to turn things around by 180 degrees!

The dynamic Harshad Patravali was to teach this course, with myself and Himanshu assisting him. Now, he had never been to this part of the town... and panicked at the very name of Hinjewadi! He looked remarkably happy though, when he reached the venue... he had discovered its not as far as it sounds! I wonder what in the letters H, i, n, j, e, w, a, d, i... makes it sound like its faaaaar!!

Himanshu chanted Guru Pooja and we were all ready to set the ball rolling....

Day One

The course started dot at 6:00. The participants echoed the same discipline... the total fine collected from late comers for this course is a big ZERO! Yup, everyone was on time... everyday!! Another new for me!

This was a sincere batch, Harshad was quick and nimble... as he ran them through the rules and the various processes! And in no time it was over... :-)

Day Two, Three

One more time, we witnessed the grace shower on us!

Sudarshan Kriya.

"The Sudarshan Kriya was very soothing, it relaxed the mind & body completely..."

"In folk stories, I read about Sadhu's floating in the air! I myself had the same experience during my first Sudarshan Kriya..."

"The gifts which i got here like sudarshan kriyan all is the best gift in my life thanks to Art Of Living for giving me such a wonderful experience!"

Day Four and Five

We learned about ourselves...

and a lot of other cool stuff...we sang and we danced incessantly...we played...we cooked...

yes, we even walked the Ramp!!

... and, somewhere... in all that... something changed...

"Learnt time management & actually have more of free time..."

"It has made me feel a lot more focussed, disciplined, committed & sure about myself. A much more chilled out person than before. "

"...have quit smoking, drinking, drugs in 5 days of this course."

" Got a strength to face the problems which infact were not problems."

"I Love my parents.... i had never said 'I Love You' to my parents but now I am closer to them....."

"The biggest achievement I got here is ........ that I overcome the communication gap that I had with my parents."

"Because of this course I again got my best smile, which I have been trying to find from last 3 years."

"Now I m again enjoying my life & the environment where I spend most part of my day.

"This course makes me feel very good about myself! Energizes me till the last moment"

"Wonderful experience, cannot express it in words. It gave me my

purpose of life & how to get about to achieve it."

"I have done this course before, but the course did not cease to amaze me..."

"It is truly amazing to meet life with such great energies. I have gained more in confidence and I am enlightened in knowledge and spiritually."

"The 5 days that I've spent with my group is just UNFORGETTABLE!! "

"Another important thing i want to tell everyone was it was not a boring just yoga kriya course but lot of fun, games, laughter.... before this I rarely played games, enjoyed and laughed so much...."

The BeginningThe Sunday and the course were coming to an end... (yes, one more hour and the sunday would have become monday). It wasn't really an end though... it was a beginning by all means!

It's amazing how much love and fondness you can have in your heart for a bunch of 23 strangers you meet less than a week ag0! I had 23 new friends... and it was time to part! We parted, with love and gratitude in our hearts and with the promise of meeting again for the first Upgrade!! :-)

"Thanks to AOL organisation and all the wonderful people who belong to this. Love you all!"

"What Guruji is doing ... no words to describe...."

"feel like I am welcomed in a new family new home & it says WELCOME HOME!!"

"to change myself and the world.... YES+ course was just perfect.."

"I made new friends here after such a long time. I think this is just unforgattable."